Rio Rancho, NM Short-Term Rentals: Taxes & Fees (2026)
Key Facts
- Application fee
- $100 one-time, nonrefundable
- Permit fee
- $300 per year
- Reinspection/late fee
- $50 each
- Lodger's tax
- 5% of gross rent
Summary
Rio Rancho charges a $100 application fee plus a $300 annual permit fee for short-term rentals, and taxes them at 5% of gross rent under the city's lodger's tax.
(A) Application fee. An application for a new short-term rental permit shall be accompanied by a one-time nonrefundable application, processing, and inspection fee of $100.
(1) The application fee shall be due upon submission of the application for a short-term rental permit.
(2) The application fee includes an initial inspection only. A reinspection fee of $50 will be required anytime a reinspection is scheduled.
(3) Where a short-term rental operator is seeking to renew a short-term rental permit, a late fee of $50 is required to extend the time for filing by 30 days.
(B) Permit fee. A short-term rental unit is subject to an annual permit fee of $300. (Ord. 24-22)
Full Breakdown
Operating a short-term rental in Rio Rancho carries a $100 one-time, nonrefundable application fee that covers the first inspection, plus a $300 annual permit fee. A missed reinspection costs another $50, and a late renewal buys a 30-day extension for a $50 late fee. On top of those city fees, short-term rental units count as "taxable premises" under Rio Rancho's Lodger's Tax ordinance, so operators owe the city's 5% occupancy tax on gross rent, the same as a hotel or motel, plus the gross receipts and income taxes § 123.04(B)(2) requires them to pay.
Violations & Fines
Nonpayment of any short-term rental fee can trigger permit revocation under § 123.09; failing to collect and remit the 5% lodger's tax is a separate violation of § 37.02.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a short-term rental permit cost in Rio Rancho?
Do Rio Rancho short-term rentals owe lodger's tax?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rio Rancho
How Rio Rancho compares: Cities with the Highest Short-Term Rental Taxes·Compare Rio Rancho to another location·View the New Mexico short-term rentals overview
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